Help - Advice needed - How bad can Staines be?

[Blackduck]

Okay wise MNs I need some perspective, some advice and some information....
I went for an initial job interview yesterday and they want me to go for a second interview. The job is great, more money, challenging, all that...BUT
a. I'd have to be away in Europe one week a month
b. I'd have to relocate to the SE.

So my questions are with regard to a. is anyone in this situation? How do you cope? Is it an issue for you?
With regard to b. anyone live around the Staines area and have a view as to good/bad places to live etc....?

This is a big decision, ds is 18 months and dp really is primary carer but I'm getting the 'you'll regret it' and all that from relatives.....
What do I do???
All advice gratefully received......

My dad, sister and brother live in Shepperton which is 10 minutes drive from Staines. It's not a bad place to live, a pretty high street and the river, an old church square and plenty of open space.

Cousin lives in Ashford, also not a bad place. There are plenty of pretty villages within 10 minutes of Staines - Laleham, Sunbury, Datchet, Colnbrook...

Anorak...thanks for the info...
Anyone else?

anyone??

Was a student in the Egham area almost 20 years ago and I know Staines has changed a lot since then. Parts of Egham seemed nice last time we passed through (iirc the primary schools are ok) and Englefield Green was a nice, if pricey , village between Staines and Windsor, on the fringes of Windosr Great Park. You do get a fair number of students, and student style accommodation, in the area.

Where abouts are you living at the momnet? Having relocated myself from SE to NW(not for job reasons though) there are many differences, It does depend where you come from now and what you are used to, Many good areas and really nice places to live but I would consider things like cost of living and social groups things like that as it is different.

Well, I don't have a wealth of useful information but I am currently working in Staines (I live in SE London). Personally I would hate to be away for a week a month, but it's always a question of weighing up the pros and cons. I took on this project in Staines because the work was brilliant and really interesting, and pretty much my dream project, the downside for me is a 1.5 hr commute to get here, and having to increase my working days from 3-4 per week, so on those days I see my 2 year old dd for about half an hour.

I'm pretty sure there are some mumsnetters actually living in Staines and around because I noticed a 'meetup' a while ago. Hopefully they will see this and give you some more useful local information.

Blackduck, not sure where you live now, but it's very congested around Staines - M25, M3 and M4. I lived in Twickenham a few yrs back which was nice (river etc) but not a patch on living in Oxford, where I used to live, or Bucks where I live now. It is also quite expensive - check out the house prices

In fact dh now works in Staines but wouldn't consider moving nearer - luckily he's home based a lot of the time.

On the plus side -it's very handy for Legoland

Thanks people...
I'm currently in the midlands (thou' come from London originally....) Would have to move near the office. I have to admit moving back to the SE is not something I would have looked to do (and certainly not to London...)
The week away isn't ideal, but the compensation is the job - very challanging, lots of possibilities....

whymummy lives there! havent seen her post for a while but hopefully she'll do a namesearch and find you!

Staines is near me - its really good for shopping. I live in Old Windsor, village just outside the town on the edge of Windsor Great Park about 3 miles from Staines. It really is lovely around here!

I have just moved from Staines to Egham, no reason except needed more space and found a place I love. Am currently pregnant so have been looking into schools and my personal opinion is the schools in the Egham area are nicer than directly in Staines. Staines is great for shopping and coffee and eating out but to be avoided after 10pm if you are not into clubs!
You will get more for your money in terms of house prices in Egham or Thorpe (although Thorpe is VERY close to M25). I personally don't like Englefield Green due to the huge amount of students and find Egham has more greenery, although Staines river on a Sunday is lovely.
Good luck - Joe

Hi blackduck, we moved to Ashford Middlesex this september in time for the start of school. We lived in North London for the previous 30 0dd years, so a bit of difference..... Its quieter than I'm use to. I drove through Staines to get to Virginnia waters... lovely area... If you are definately thinking of moving down here, your welcome to pop into us as a stop gap??? It would give you a better idea of what to expect.... Good luck....